Bed bugs bite and cause itchy marks. You may wake up itching and not know quite what it is. They are small, and with darker sheets, they can be difficult to initially see. If you notice you are waking up scratching in the mornings, you may have a bed bug infestation. Once you’ve found you are dealing with bedbugs, you’ll need to consider treatment options—including hiring a pest control company like Nationwide Pest Control.
Below is more information about what bed bugs are, how to prevent them, treatment, and other types of pests you may experience in the Charlotte area.
What Bed Bugs Are
Bed bugs are brownish-colored insects that are very small. These flat-bodied insects feed on the blood of animals and humans. As they become filled with blood, they turn redder. Bed bugs are notorious for how quickly they can spread. They often lay hundreds of eggs. They also spread beyond your bed and can make their way all over your house.
Bed bugs aren’t known for spreading disease, but they can make you itch a lot. This, in turn, can lead to infection.
Bed Bug Prevention
The best way to treat bed bugs is to prevent them, to begin with. There are a few steps that you can take to avoid a bed bug infestation.
Below are the steps for avoiding bed bugs:
- Wash any clothing you purchase when you get home from the store.
- Wash your clothes after a vacation.
- Clean and vacuum your house regularly.
- Wash your sheets often.
- If possible, avoid the purchase of used furniture and clothing. If you do, check they are free of bed bugs before bringing them home.
How Do I Know If I Have an Infestation?
While you may be taking appropriate steps to avoid a bed bug infestation, there is still the chance of ending up with bed bugs. There are a few things you’ll want to look out for to determine if you may have a bed bug infestation:
- Bloodstains on your sheets and pillows
- Dark, excrement spots on bed sheets, mattresses, and walls
- A musty odor caused by their scent glands
If you notice any of these signs, check your bed, sheets, and box springs. You’ll also want to start searching beyond your bed to see if they have spread. This includes your carpet, bedstand, and furniture throughout the rest of your home.
How Do I Get Rid of Them?
Once you find bed bugs, you’ll want to take immediate action to get rid of them as soon as possible. You don’t want to give them time to spread. Below are a few things you can do to get rid of bed bugs while still in the early phases of an infestation:
- Clean up your house. Pick up clutter, vacuum, and check your house for bed bugs again after the house is cleaned.
- Wash your clothing, sheets, curtains, and bedding with hot water and dry with the highest drier setting available. For items that can’t be washed, place them in the drier for around 30 minutes.
- Scrub your furniture and mattress with a stiff brush before vacuuming to get rid of bugs and eggs. Zip up your mattress and box spring in a cover when you notice the bugs to prevent them from moving around until you are able to remove them.
These tips can help very early on. You may be able to get rid of the bed bugs and stop their spread. With that said, if the infestation has spread, you’ll want to contact a pest control company to remove the pests for good.
Professional Services
Professional pest control companies like Nationwide Pest Control in Charlotte are able to dispatch a specialist that will survey your property, identify all of the bed bug problem areas, and remove the pests. They will then put measures in place to ensure the bed bugs don’t return. Nationwide Pest Control specialists are also available for ongoing pest services to stop pests from returning.
Other Pests in Charlotte
Along with bed bugs, there are other pests that may infest your home. Some of these pests include:
Rodents
Rodents include pests like mice, roof rats, Norway rats, and more. Rodents are well-known for being spreaders of bacteria and disease. Not only can having rodents around lead to sickness, but they will also destroy your property, chew through your wires, and get into your food.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are just something you have to deal with when living in Charlotte. If they aren’t buzzing around your head annoying you, they are landing and biting. While you can’t avoid them entirely, you also don’t want them infesting your property. They are known to carry a variety of different viruses and diseases. If you notice an infestation, take action!
Ants
If you see a couple of ants scurrying across your counter, there’s a good chance there are more in your house somewhere. Ants live in colonies, and those colonies can grow very large in numbers. There are also ants like fire ants that have painful stings.
Wasps/Hornets
Wasps and hornets are nasty, mean, and dangerous. Not only will they sting you without provocation, but their sting may also cause an allergic reaction. If wasps or hornets have built a nest on your property, it needs to be addressed immediately.
Termites/Carpenter Ants
Termites and carpenter ants are responsible for billions of dollars in damage every year. If they make their way into your home, they will eat away at it and do tons of damage. Don’t try to get rid of termites and carpenter ants on your own. Removal services need to be provided by a specialist.
Contact Nationwide Today!
Whether you have bed bugs around your house or any other type of pest, contact Nationwide Pest Control. We will find all of these pests in your home, eliminate them, and set up a perimeter so they don’t return. Call us today!
